Toy Glider

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a toy glider or similar non-motorized craft utilizing an adjustable weight to alter the centre of gravity of the craft. A weight or mass may be connected to a main body portion or a handle of the craft and movable along that portion to correct for unstable flight characteristics in the glider.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to toy aeroplanes, gliders or similarair-borne craft and, in particular, although not necessarily solely, toyaircraft without motor driven propulsion.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is generally concerned with toy aircraft in theform of gliders that are typically made of a light body and largeaerofoil wing span for hand propulsion or perhaps powered by use of aprojectile launcher.

[0003] Such gliders are often manufactured in a single piece orrelatively small number of pieces. As the aircraft operates withoutmotorized power during the flight of the craft, it is typically toprovide a relatively large wing span with minimal body portion to thecraft.

[0004] Once such gliders are mass-produced, there is always a risk ofminor variations in different gliders produced. Furthermore, continueduse of such gliders may cause minor damage to the aerofoil wing span oreven different wind or environmental conditions can have a large impacton the flight of the craft.

[0005] In such craft, it is not unknown for the craft to develop oralready have a tendency to drive, rise or otherwise alter from a smoothsteady flight. Furthermore, by existing manufacture, there is noopportunity to adjust the flight of the glider to any significantextent.

[0006] The result is that the flight of the glider can often be unsteadyand this may be an inherent defect in the glider itself causingconsiderable dissatisfaction to customers. Alternatively even if this isa problem that develops through use, the usable life of such a craft maybe significantly shortened if such defects cannot be compensated.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide anon-motorized aircraft in the form of a glider or similar that canovercome some of the disadvantages of the prior art by allowing someadjustment to the flight of the craft subsequent to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be saidto consist in a non-motorized toy aircraft including:

[0009] a body portion;

[0010] at least one wing attached to said body portion; and

[0011] a movable mass to alter the centre of gravity of the craft tothereby manipulate the flight characteristics.

[0012] Preferably said at least one wing comprises at least one pair ofwings such that one of said pair extends either side of said main bodyportion.

[0013] Preferably said main body portion includes a portion extendingunderneath said at least one wing for gripping by a user or a projectilelauncher for launching of the craft.

[0014] Preferably said movable mass is provided on or in said main bodyportion.

[0015] Preferably said main body portion includes a handle extendingbelow said at least one wing with said movable mass being movable alongsaid handle.

[0016] Preferably said movable mass comprises a mass threaded onto acylindrical portion of said handle to allow movement at least in adirection from a front to a rear of said craft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] This invention will now be described by way of furtherembodiments with reference to the following drawings in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows an underside view of one embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 shows an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of theapparatus of FIG. 3; and

[0022]FIGS. 5A, B and C provide diagrammatic representations of theflight of a preferred embodiment of the invention in differentconfigurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures.This embodiment comprises an aircraft 1 generally provided in the formof a hand-propelled glider. It will be appreciated that the inventionitself may be applied to other forms of craft rather than the specificwinged glider shown in the drawings. Although generally relating tonon-motorized craft, other toy aircraft may benefit from the invention.

[0024] Referring specifically to FIG. 1, a view of the underside of thecraft 1 is shown. It can be seen that the craft generally comprises anaerofoil wing 3 with a body portion 2 attached, in this instance, to anunderside of the aerofoil wing 3. The wing 3 may be considered as asingle aerofoil wing or a pair of wings. Often this may depend on theconstruction of the glider itself. Of course, multiple wing spans may beused in such a craft.

[0025] As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body portion 2can be seen to comprise a handle 4 downwardly dependent from theaerofoil wing 3. Attached to that body portion is a mass 5 that ismovable in a determined direction.

[0026] Although a movable mass may be incorporated onto a main bodyportion in a number of forms, this preferred embodiment convenientlyprovides the mass 5 as being threaded onto a cooperating thread 6 on thehandle 4. Thus the mass 5 can be rotated to move in a general directionbetween a forward and a rearward position along the handle 4.

[0027] It will be appreciated that many alternative forms of connectinga mass to a handle or other main body portion may be utilized. It ispreferred that the mass is relatively stable in desired positions and,therefore, a mass that is movable between discrete stable locations orcontinuously stable locations as is provided by a threaded connection ispreferred.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the craft 1 is shown withdirections of movement 7 of the mass 5 indicated to correct flight path8 should the glider exhibit such difficulties.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5A, it can be seen that the flight path 8 priorto movement of the mass is indicating a tendency of the glider to rise.Forward movement of the movable mass 5 along the thread 6 of the handle4 may alter the centre of gravity sufficiently to remove thischaracteristic.

[0030] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5B, the flight path 8 is now causingthe craft to dive and a rearward movement of the mass 5 may compensatefor this.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 5C, if the ideal stable flight path is alreadyachieved, no movement of the mass is necessary.

[0032] It will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment describedthus far is generally provided to shift the centre of gravity along acentral axis of the craft to correct rise or fall of the craft. Defectsmay also alter the lateral characteristics of the flight and may beattended to by adjustment of a further movable mass along asubstantially orthogonal axis or by movement of a combined mass.

[0033] Considering the mass 5, it will be appreciated that if the mass 5is eccentrically located on the thread 6, some lateral shift of thecentre of gravity will occur if a larger portion of the mass 5 is on oneside of the thread 6 compared with the other. As a single half rotationof the mass may not unduly alter the characteristics of the flight asshown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, such a half turn can move an eccentric massfrom one side of the handle 4 to another so as to correct any lateraldefects in the flight.

[0034] Many alternatives are possible and the invention is notrestricted to the use of a single mass. Multiple masses movable todifferent positions on the craft are possible including attachment ofthe masses to various locations on the wing spans themselves.

[0035] In manufacture, such gliders are often made from particularlylight materials with the main body portion either being formedintegrally or formed separately from light materials such as light wood,cardboard, plastics or similar materials. The wing span 3 is similarlymade from light materials and this preferred embodiment utilizes asynthetic foam material to provide a large area at relatively lightweight.

[0036] Referring again to the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 4,it will be appreciated that the launching of such a craft by handrequires gripping of the craft in the first instance to providesufficient propulsion. The provision of a handle 4 and the mass 5 itselfmay provide items allowing better purchase to be gained on the craft forproviding the initial propulsion to the craft.

[0037] Thus it can be seen that the invention provides a glider in whichthe centre of gravity can be manipulated to alter the flight path of thecraft to overcome difficulties associated with inherent manufacturingdefects or developed defects through use. In addition, the same movablemass is provided in a form in the preferred embodiment that allowsrelatively easy movement between stable positions as well as providinggreater purchase for a user to hold the craft for launching.

[0038] It will be appreciated that some such gliders may be launchedfrom projectile launchers which are typically powered by elastic bandsor similar. In such cases the movable mass may still be provided on themain body portion and can be above or below the wing span as may benecessary to fit with the launched vehicle.

[0039] It should also be appreciated that projectile launchers often usea downwardly dependent hook or other portion for engagement with thelauncher. The hook itself could be movable in its position in relationto the wing span 3 such that the hook or other engagement with thelauncher is also utilized as a movable mass to alter the centre ofgravity.

1. A non-motorized toy aircraft including: a body portion; at least onewing attached to said body portion; and a movable mass to alter thecentre of gravity of the craft to thereby manipulate the flightcharacteristics.
 2. A non-motorized toy aircraft as claimed in claim 1wherein said at least one wing comprises at least one pair of wings suchthat one of said pair extends either side of said main body portion. 3.A non-motorized toy aircraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mainbody portion includes a portion extending underneath said at least onewing for gripping by a user or a projectile launcher for launching ofthe craft.
 4. A non-motorized toy aircraft as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid movable mass is provided on or in said main body portion.
 5. Anon-motorized toy aircraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main bodyportion includes a handle extending below said at least one wing withsaid movable mass being movable along said handle.
 6. A non-motorizedtoy aircraft as claimed in claim 5 wherein said movable mass comprises amass threaded onto a cylindrical portion of said handle to allowmovement at least in a direction from a front to a rear of said craft.